Free Bleeding Through: A Rachel Goddard Mystery (Rachel Goddard Mysteries) by Sandra Parshall Page A

man.”
    “What did he say on the phone just now?”
    “He said, Are you enjoying your little vacation, Michelle? He knows where I am.” A tremor ran through Michelle’s body.
    “That’s what he wants you to believe. Maybe he’s just angry that you’re not at home and he can’t find you.” But what if he guessed where Michelle had gone and came after her? To reassure herself as much as Michelle, Rachel placed an arm around her sister’s shoulders, the way she had so many times when they were girls, and automatically spoke the old, familiar words of comfort. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. You’re safe now.”
    Michelle jerked away from her and jumped up, an angry flush coloring her face. “Don’t treat me like a child! You’re just indulging me. I thought you’d understand after what you went through with Perry Nelson.”
    “The two situations aren’t exactly the same,” Rachel said, “but believe me, I do know how scared you must be.” Nelson had been a charming, blandly handsome young client who brought his dog to Rachel for treatment and grabbed an opportunity to steal her prescription pad. When a pharmacist alerted her that Nelson had presented orders for narcotics in amounts not normally prescribed for dogs, Rachel had pressed charges against him. Nelson retaliated with a campaign of harassment and, ultimately, by shooting her. “I still dream about it sometimes. So please don’t think I don’t understand.”
    Michelle wrapped her arms around her waist and stood rigid as a statue. Her face displayed every emotion she was sorting through, as if searching for one that suited her. Stubborn anger gave way to grudging acceptance of Rachel’s apology, only to be displaced by a fresh wave of anxiety. “I knew it was bad for you, but I had to experience it myself to really understand.”
    “I was lucky in a way,” Rachel said, “because I knew Perry Nelson, I understood why he wanted to hurt me.”
    “The police knew who he was too, and they knew what he was doing, but they didn’t do anything to keep him from hurting you,” Michelle said, her voice rising. “He almost killed you, while the police stood by and let it happen. I can’t even identify the person who’s harassing me, so what hope do I have of getting any protection?”
    Oh, god, Rachel thought, weary with tension. She felt helpless. Was there any right way to deal with this? Rubbing the knotted muscles at the back of her neck, she said, “Maybe Tom can help somehow. I promise he’ll take you seriously. Come sit down, please. If you need to talk, I’m here to listen.”
    Michelle returned to sit on the bed beside Rachel, but kept her arms clamped around her waist. She rocked slightly, back and forth.
    Everything in Rachel urged her to embrace Michelle, beg her to stop torturing herself, but she stayed silent while her sister groped for words.
    When Michelle spoke again, her voice came out a whisper. “I’ve been thinking about Mother a lot since all this started. I still miss her so much.”
    Rachel’s desire to comfort her sister vanished. “Well, I’m sure she’d be a big help if she were here. Maybe she could hypnotize you and make it all go away.”
    Rachel instantly regretted the words. She had to look away from Michelle’s wounded expression.
    “How could you say something so cruel to me?” Michelle’s voice quavered. “So much for sisterly understanding.”
    “I’m sorry.” This time Rachel meant it. She was fumbling for something more to say when footsteps sounded on the stairs. Michelle yanked a handful of tissues from the box on the bedside table and dabbed and wiped her face. Seconds later Kevin appeared in the doorway.

Chapter Nine
    Detective Fagan frowned as Tom pulled onto the shoulder of the road in front of the Lankford house. “Are we going to have a pack of pit bulls jumping us when we get out of the car?”
    Two PRIVATE PROPERTY—NO TRESPASSING signs hung on the five-foot high chain link